Therapists in Ruston, LA

My name is Maria Sands. I hold a Masters Degree in Social Work and a State license to practice Social Work in Louisiana. I practice from a Bio-Psycho-Social perspective; that is, I look at the whole person as an Individual who is also part of society. I have worked in medical and psychiatric venues which adds to my ability to address issues such as comorbidities and psychotropic medications. My specialties include Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. I use CBT, Deep Relaxation Techniques, Self-Affirmations and Journaling among other techniques and treatment approaches to address these disorders. I have had a good deal of experience with adults and the elderly with pre-existing conditions, such as kidney failure. I think I can help because I come from a Bio-Psycho-Social perspective and because I tailor my treatment approach to the clients I am treating. Different techniques work better for different people.

I am a Board Certified licensed professional counselor with a 40 year assessment, counseling and treatment planning background in various positions under a school system umbrella, including 13 years of school-based liaison experience with Juvenile Diversion Services in conjunction with the Office of the District Attorney. Adept at providing a practical and problem solving approach in treating clients experiencing challenges in their psychological, intellectual, moral, vocational, or personal growth. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Welcome to the world of counseling! Ms. Nikolya T. Sparks holds a B.A. in Psychology from Grambling State University and an M.A. in Counseling & Guidance from Louisiana Tech University. Licensed as a Professional Counselor in Louisiana and Nationally Certified Counselor, Ms. Sparks is also Certified Grief Informed Professional, Complex Clinical Treatment Provider, Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Certified Advanced Grief Specialist with 30 years of clinical experience. Currently licensed in Louisiana, Ms. Sparks is here to listen, act, and provide the support you need. Contact me today to begin your journey to wellness! https://www.betterhelp.com/nikolya-sparks/ I am a native New Orleanian & proud member of the #WHODAT Nation. I encourage a healthy work-life balance & indulgence in self-care. Some of my self-care activities include prayer, journaling, spending time with my family, festivals, spoiling my two fur babies Bernie & Lady Lola, reading, planning (I’m a proud Planner Babe), traveling & serving my community. I am a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I am also mother to one son, Brian Christopher. I'm also fortunate enough to have several "bonus" kids.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, mood stability, family conflicts, anger management/emotional control, motivation, self-esteem and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan for improving your quality of living, to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and satisfactory life and to take the responsible first steps towards positive changes. I am pleased to be a helpful support to empower you in that journey.

Hello! I am very passionate about helping others and improving the well-being of all individuals. Although I received by master’s degree in counseling from Louisiana Tech in 2017, I have 8 years of experience working in the helping profession. I approach counseling from an integrative perspective which means I use a variety of theoretical approaches. My primary techniques are person-centered and cognitive-behavioral. Person-centered is important to ensure that respect and unconditional positive regard are shown towards the client. Cognitive-behavior perspective is used to explore patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an effort to better understand the clients’ problems and to develop solutions. I have training in trauma, anxiety, depression and domestic violence. I work with clients in a variety of settings which include individual, as well as couples and family sessions. I also conduct group therapy. I see clients of all ages and backgrounds. The only exception is I do not work individually with children under five years of age. Specialties Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Emotional Focus Therapy (EFT) Motivational Interviewing Preschool PTSD Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Telehealth ADHD Relationship Issues Bipolar Disorder I am looking forward to working with you!

I am licensed in Louisiana with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with lgbt-related issues. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Louisiana and Texas with 12 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, family conflicts, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I became a counselor because I feel passionate in helping individual's find peace and harmony in their lives among their daily struggles. In this day and age, mental health self-care should be viewed equally as taking care of one's physical self-care, and I believe in taking care of mind, body and spirit. I believe it takes courage and strength to seek professional health in this world of judgement and darkness. "Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light". -Brene Brown I approach therapy by utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy. My goal is to help you connect and understand how your thoughts, actions, and behaviors cause stress, anxiety, and depression. Being human, we all face life’s challenges, trials, and tribulations leaving us with emotional turmoil. Together, we can develop goals to aid you to achieve your desired outcomes to live a life of meaning and purpose. I have worked with a diversity of adult and couples with diverse backgrounds struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar, anger issues, grief, and interpersonal conflict. I would consider it a privilege to be a part of your journey as you travel down the road to healing. “God is our refuge, our strength, and our ever-present help in trouble”. Psalms 46:1

I am licensed in Louisiana with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & parenting issues. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! Unfortunately, I am not serviceable to Jefferson parish residents.

I am licensed in Louisiana with 12 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.